The Hooman Saga - VI

So far: Sue has climbed to a vantage, to see both Tig and the feral pack he faces. Tig notes the ferals acting - differently. While he can kill or disable only one-on-one, another idea comes to him...

Nov 30, 2024

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VI

TIG CONCENTRATED ON THE CLUMP of trees and bushes to his left. While these were no dead pile of twigs, there was much dead growth on them. Then he spoke the mystic chants rumbling in his big chest, growling these out. He and the feral pack saw smoke rise as the dead limbs ignited, smoldering and smoking.

This stopped the growling from the ferals. They too, along with all their wolf brethren, feared fire and what it could cause. A fire that started on its own, in this canyon with no lightning, was further mystery to them.

Now the tree clump opposite began to smoke. They saw Tig nearby, again growling and rumbling something in his odd manner, as if he were talking to the trees.

Soon the smoke was rising as a haze in the canyon from both sides and the ferals became anxious. They moved backward and forward, looking at each other. One of the bigger ones then growled again and focused their attention on Tig.

Yet they hesitated. For now they had three enemies. Small canyon fires on two sides, and a killer wolf between them.

Tig moved slowly back to that central part between the walls, prepared for the onslaught he thought would come, regardless. Fire shown in Tig's eyes as well, warning the ferals.

The lead wolf of the ferals recognized this and growled his pack to move forward. Only the pack in numbers could defeat this fighter.

It was then Tig sensed something behind him and pointing his senses in that direction.

He was surprised.

- - - -

It was the hooman, come up behind him, while still at a safe distance so he couldn't mistake her for a feral wolf.

He sent to her, "And what in hell are you doing here?"

And she sent back, "I think I can help."

He shrugged as he kept watching the ferals.

Sue raised her arms, closed her eyes, and concentrated. Each hand pointed to one of the smoking woody clumps. She mumbled something under her breath aloud, over and over. And the two smoking, woody clumps then burst into flames. And the flames roared taller.

The feral pack jerked back as one body. But then the leader barked and moved forward himself. They again followed him.

Tig then bristled, ready for their attack of both he and the hooman.

Sue opened her eyes at this and glared at the lead wolf. She extended her arms even stronger. Her gesture towards the clumps made the flames grow even broader than they should have for that amount of wood. They were now each roaring infernos. And the feral pack narrowed to just a few bodies wide. Tig took a step forward because he knew he could handle three or four at a time in a narrow channel.

The lead feral wolf bristled in return, urging his own pack forward, when suddenly a wall of flame erupted between Tig and the pack. A wall of flame went from floor to the canyon wall-tops. It went outward towards the feral pack so they all stopped, sat on their haunches. And lost their faith, running away, back down the canyon.

The lead wolf looked back over his shoulder to see two forms encased in flames as the massed inferno kept growing, seeming to reach toward him. The ferals ran away down the trail, in absolute fright.

Silence fell in the canyon.

Sue dropped her arms, and then dropped to her knees, exhausted. Tig cocked one ear at her, both curious and relieved. He kept listening, but the running feral pack was now in the distance. Even to his keen ears, their sounds faded after seconds.

Through shared vision, Tig had glimpsed what the ferals had seen, but that's not what he was saw. For him, the clumps of trees only smoldered. Tig went over to Sue and licked her face. She put an arm around his shaggy mane.

At that point another handful of other wolves, colored like Tig, trotted up through the Canyon opening. They skirted the two clumps of smoky wood on each side of the canyon. Then walked up toward the two forms and circled them.

While Sue had gained Tig's support, she had not gotten his pack's understanding. She and Tig understood each other. The rest of the pack did not.

To them the hooman was a danger worse than the feral wolves.

We’re now well into a new serial.

Now our hero and heroine have escaped one trap, only to face another danger. Of course there are some 27 chapters after this. But you’ll have to stay tuned until next week to see how they get out of this…

For now, set your calendar to keep track of these new adventures. Every Saturday.

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